I am enjoying the read provided by Paul H. Sadler, Sr., in his new book, 52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation . . . Worship. At one point, early on in the book, Sadler comments, "Far too many pastors are afraid to take the risks necessary to enable their congregations to experience true worship. Fear is the enemy of the church. Where there is fear, the church cannot prosper and the people of God cannot grow. In worship, fear translates into a concern for what others will think of how we worship and into settling for playing it safe with the familiar, rather than launching out into the deep, where real, rich,and profound worship of God can occur."
In some ways that feels like a heavy charge to level at pastors, accusing them of being timid and safe when it comes to worship. I think of the nearly twenty-five years I spent regularly shaping the liturgy in the three churches where I served as pastor and teacher. I loved the routine of the liturgy. The order of service provided a measure of stability and security. We knew what to expect whenever we gathered. I also was prone to select the favorite hymns that had nurtured the congregation of my youth. Most seemed to appreciate them, too.
I can still hear the heated liturgical arguments--whether passing the peace was a disruption to the flow and formality of the service. Some did not like that. I recall a response that I encouraged the choir to sing after the reading of the scripture lessons. The choir balked. They did not like that. There was also the big issue of whether children should be allowed to partake of Communion since they had not yet been confirmed. That was an emotionally-charged debate within the congregation. And then, there is always the issue of time. How long should a service be? The normative answer always: just one hour--60 minutes max. We have other things to do on Sunday than be in church.
It is easy to reduce the risks and travel the well-worn path week after week. It is easier to sing the favorite hymns over and over, rather than expanding the repertoire. I am still tempted toward sentimentality in the sanctuary, looking back rather than looking forward. For sure, worship is about God. True worship is focused in actively glorifying and praising God. It is bending the knee, opening our souls, singing for joy to the One who gives us life.
O sing to God a new song! It is a new day. May we greet God with new songs of praise. It is not about ritual but about the reality of God's presence. It's about God!
In some ways that feels like a heavy charge to level at pastors, accusing them of being timid and safe when it comes to worship. I think of the nearly twenty-five years I spent regularly shaping the liturgy in the three churches where I served as pastor and teacher. I loved the routine of the liturgy. The order of service provided a measure of stability and security. We knew what to expect whenever we gathered. I also was prone to select the favorite hymns that had nurtured the congregation of my youth. Most seemed to appreciate them, too.
I can still hear the heated liturgical arguments--whether passing the peace was a disruption to the flow and formality of the service. Some did not like that. I recall a response that I encouraged the choir to sing after the reading of the scripture lessons. The choir balked. They did not like that. There was also the big issue of whether children should be allowed to partake of Communion since they had not yet been confirmed. That was an emotionally-charged debate within the congregation. And then, there is always the issue of time. How long should a service be? The normative answer always: just one hour--60 minutes max. We have other things to do on Sunday than be in church.
It is easy to reduce the risks and travel the well-worn path week after week. It is easier to sing the favorite hymns over and over, rather than expanding the repertoire. I am still tempted toward sentimentality in the sanctuary, looking back rather than looking forward. For sure, worship is about God. True worship is focused in actively glorifying and praising God. It is bending the knee, opening our souls, singing for joy to the One who gives us life.
O sing to God a new song! It is a new day. May we greet God with new songs of praise. It is not about ritual but about the reality of God's presence. It's about God!
No comments:
Post a Comment